Key to Election: Independents

Sunday, October 28, 2012

Something very interesting happened in Moore County politics this past month. As of Oct. 2, 2012, independents began to outnumber Democrats in election registration.

Republican registration accounted for 38.8 percent of Moore County voters. Unaffiliated independents accounted for 28.9 percent, and Democrats accounted for 28.8 percent of our 63,034 registrants.

The fact that independents now outnumber Democrats is not surprising.

In our county, new unaffiliated registrations have been outnumbering new Democrats for a long time. But for a voter like me who grew up in Moore County when Republicans were a lonely minority, the fact that Democrats are becoming a "third party" is as surprising as it would be foolish to "spike the ball" and brag about the development.

When I first became Republican Party chairman, many in our party told me that the trend toward independent voters was the result of our lack of commitment to conservative politics. Too many people were upset that when we were last in control of the federal government, we failed to significantly cut spending as we continued to cut taxes. We needed to more solidly identify with the pro-life movement and the opposition to the LGBT agenda. This seemed very enticing to me, as my personal politics are closely aligned with these positions.

Yet as I spoke to many disaffected Republicans and new independents, I found a group who, in days long ago, would be supporters of Nelson Rockefeller and Everett Dirksen, moderate Republicans who were as dedicated to civil rights as they were to balanced budgets. I realized that we needed these moderate Republicans just as we needed moderate independents to form a governing coalition.

As I grew into this job, I found that the success of the Republican Party depended on creating a broad coalition of center-right moderates and conservatives.

That is because, on our best day, we had only 38.8 percent of the votes we needed to win office. Our success continued to depend upon those voters who called themselves "independent."

Now, I do believe that most independents are basically conservative. Many, like me, are proud members of Moore Tea Citizens. But, their decision to designate themselves as unaffiliated shows that even their conservative vote is a provisional ballot demanding that our candidates show both sincerity and integrity.

And those independents who are moderate are just as skeptical. Many are concerned as much about growing government power under the Patriot Act as they are about balanced budgets.

One of the mistakes political parties make is that we tend to base our legislation upon an ideology, Republicans being conservative and Democrats being liberal.

We do not take into account that many of our necessary constituents are not as liberal as is the Democratic Party, nor are they as conservative as most Republicans.

Laws must be based upon a broad consensus of our population, not based upon a party ideology. And, the less the legislation, the greater the freedom we are able to preserve for all our citizens.

Mitt Romney was not my first choice for Republican presidential nominee. I am much more conservative than is he. But as I see the registration statistics in Moore County as well as the nation as a whole, I understand that the reason for Romney's success is his ability to speak to independents as well as Republicans with a message of conservative government in the tradition of "everything in moderation."

Last month, 52 more Democrats registered to vote, while 134 new voters called themselves "unaffiliated." In the meantime, 163 new registrants elected to join the Republican Party. The slide of Democrats probably indicates the growing voter frustration with liberalism. But to revel in the voter rejection of left-wing politics would certainly be a mistake for conservatives like me.

Perhaps some voters, unlike myself, are pro-choice but believe that our economy will prosper only when taxes are low. Then again, some voters believe that failure to invest into alternative fuel research is a mistake, but expansion of government-sponsored welfare is also counterproductive to economic prosperity.

Such independents must be courted with the same zeal as we cherish our tea party supporters. Republicans must welcome to our ranks all members of a center right coalition dedicated to take back government from an arcane left-wing Democratic third party.

Robert M. Levy is chairman of the Moore County Republican Party. Contact him at Law52@prodigy.net.

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SH59 6 months, 3 weeks ago

It could also be Republicans who don't want to admit it are changing to Independent so they can vote for whoever they really want without guilt.

DannySteen 6 months, 3 weeks ago

As an independent I have always believed that if there was to be a change in this country we needed more people leave the two major parties. When the parties begin seeing their numbers diminish they will have to change their ways. They could no longer play to a shrinking base. For now they see party loyalty as an affirmation of the status quo.

geoffcutler 6 months, 3 weeks ago

What I like about this piece is that it seems to be written by an adult for adults. No sarcasm, pettiness, demeaning or derogatory personal insults. It respects the reader and is a credit to the paper. Refreshing.

Phoenix 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Geoff - I agree 100%, no attacks, sarcasm or insults. If Mr. Levy represents the thinking of the GOP perhaps we will be able to get something done after the election.

Great article Mr. Levy - hardliners from both parties should take notice.

Thatcher 6 months, 3 weeks ago

geoff and Phoenix-- Agreed. Mr. Levy, a very thoughtful column. Thanks for that. Cheers!

MikeNC 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Thanks Mr. Levy...No outrage, no race baiting, nothing twisted around. Just some good facts and solid personal opinions...Good job...Mike

fugitiveguy 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Excellent piece, a pleasure to read. Thanks for the effort.

JimHeim 6 months, 3 weeks ago

One of Karl Rove's insights is that there are precious few independents. Those who choose not to affiliate with a party are nevertheless liberal, conservative or somewhere in between, and generally vote consistent with their beliefs. Anyone who thinks that there's some critical mass of centrists to bring sense to politics hasn't been paying attention.

Mr. Levy doesn't mention that 'unaffiliated' is the default choice for a majority of new voters in most months. Neither party is attractive to a growing number of citizens.

The_AnonymusProfit 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Jim what Mr Levys article is saying, is that the GOP needs to do more to open its doors to potential voting blocks, he also points out that the GOP is growing while the democrat party is shrinking (locally)

You cant spin black and white jim though you could try, but I wont let you. BTW thank you so much for being who you are, you provide endless entertainment for my wed. night bible studies.

dsc33 6 months, 3 weeks ago

Must be previous Obama voters feeling the stupidity of their votes

packwilleat 6 months, 3 weeks ago

TAP~ the GOP is growing while the democrat party is shrinking?? You and Mr. Levy are delusional in this thought process. The fact of the matter is both parties are losing independents by the droves. Some would say independents have party bias, those days are long gone. It's become as polarized as Duke Vs. Unc. I, for one, take NCSU.